Thalang Police were called to the scene, at the entrance to Wat Manik, at about 7:20pm,
Officers arrived to find the van with heavy damage to its front. A white Toyota Yaris had crashed into the back of the van.
The van driver, identified as Prinya Rakchan, 25, was trapped inside the van and unable to exit on his own.
Officers promptly coordinated with the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation’s rescue team in Muang Mai, which dispatched cutting equipment to the scene.
It took about 10 minutes to rescue Mr Prinya, who sustained minor injuries. He was then taken to Thalang Hospital for medical treatment.
According to an initial investigation, Mr Prinya had earlier transported foreign customers from Phuket International Airport to a hotel in Cherng Talay.
While returning from the drop-off, he lost control of the vehicle, leading to the crash.
No particular reason for the accident was given.
The driver of the Toyota Yaris, named by rescue workers only as ‘Mr Ek’, suffered no serious injuries in his collision.
Officers documented the incident and charged Mr Prinya with reckless driving causing damage to government property.